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When you look at the top people in a given industry, you often find that many of them once worked for the same well-known leader. In the NFL, 20 of 32 head coaches trained under Bill Walsh or someone in his coaching tree. Dozens of top hedge fund managers got their start under Julian Robertson of Tiger Management. Nine of Larry Ellison's top execs became CEOs, COOs, or chairs of other companies. The list goes on: Jay Chiat, Alice Waters, Bob Noyce, Lorne Michaels, and Mary Kay Ash are all known for grooming extraordinary people who became leaders in their fields. After conducting deep research into the practices of these superbosses, Tuck professor Finkelstein found similarities in their "people strategies." In hiring, they focus on intelligence, creativity, and flexibility; look for unconventional talent; and adapt roles and even organizations to suit people. In development, they set high expectations, build master-apprentice relationships, and encourage fast, step-change growth. All of us can borrow from their playbook to improve our own ability to identify and hone talent.

The astrophysicist on balancing his TV career with his day job and why no one could dissuade him from a career in science.

In the seven years since Don Blanchon was hired as the Chief Executive Officer of Whitman-Walker Health, it had transitioned into a primary care-based community health center and a patient-centered medical home serving a diverse population in a rapidly changing area of Washington, DC. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 would, in Blanton's view, increase access to providers for WWH's patient population, thereby increasing the competition. The implications of this change left senior management with unresolved strategic questions. Should WWH pursue a "hybrid FQHC model," a new location, new services, or a future strategic partnership with a large health system? What should the next direction be for WWH, and how should it get there?

Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo describes the challenges and opportunities of running one of the world's most successful global medical technology companies. In a wide ranging interview, he explains the thinking behind the different types of acquisitions his company has made; the cultural hiccup that one of those acquisitions led to, and how it was handled; and the importance of focusing on the mid-tier market in emerging markets.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 1, Writing as a Public Relations Professional (15 pages), the author begins with a three-step process for writing. She first explains the need to understand the reader, using age, language ability, and education level, and knowing if the goal is to inform, persuade, or request information. She then advises the writer to construct an outline and first draft without self-censoring. She also explains how to edit for content, style, and cohesion. She recommends that the writer first look at paragraphs and offers examples of different transitions between paragraphs, and then look at specific style and grammar for each sentence. She explains several aspects of public relations writing style, including active voice, clarity, and sentence variety, with examples of each. She describes resources for writers and ends with two checklists: avoiding wordiness and editing and proofreading.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 2, Routine Communications (17 pages), the author discusses daily communications. She explains that most communication is positive, where the reader's reaction is neutral or happy. She says this type of communication is usually a request for information, reply to outreach, or sharing of information. Here, she recommends a direct approach in three parts: opening, body, and conclusion. She reviews channels such as email and instant messages, and the type of message appropriate for each channel. She explains how to write an email and shares best practices. She reviews writing a letter, a memo, and an instant message. She posits that the purpose of the communication affects the writing strategy. She recommends an indirect approach for delivering negative news, and outlines four strategies for communication as well as examples for each strategy.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 3, Writing News Releases (12 pages), the author examines the purpose of a press release and a process for creating one. She outlines the most common types of releases, including publicity, product information, bad news, financial information, and feature story. She considers the concept of news value and the elements of newsworthiness in a release. She also provides a news release template with notes on each element, from headlines to boilerplate, and shares insight into what makes a release effective. She highlights unique characteristics of writing a features news release and concludes with tips on submitting a release to the media.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 4, Newsletters (17 pages), the author discusses how to create effective newsletters. She lists four types based on intended audience: employee, member, community, and special interest. She advises the writer to first identify the intended audience, the messages to deliver, and a realistic publication schedule. She explains newsletter format and analyzes print versus online delivery. She explores the importance of relevant content and provides ideas for managing ideas and conducting research, with information about doing interviews. She offers guidance on writing different types of articles, like feature stories and news briefs. She explores the inverted pyramid approach, a summary lead, headlines, and the use of images. She highlights considerations for print and electronic layout and reviews basic design elements.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 5, Brochures (16 pages), advises the writer to understand the intended reader to determine what information to include. She explains the two purposes of a brochure, either to inform or persuade the audience, and that content will differ depending on the ultimate goal. She explains how to write content and conduct research, from gathering existing data to identifying features and benefits about what is being presented in the brochure. She outlines criteria for effective writing, such as content organization, tone, voice, and flow. She also reviews brochure format and elements like headings and visuals. She briefly explains basic design and offers a sample project outline.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 6, Media Kits (6 pages), the author discusses how to assemble materials for the press. She considers the importance of understanding both the audience when doing so and the goal for sharing the information. She explains how to assemble a media kit, with tips about the necessary materials. She lists common items included, like a fact sheet, news release, company bios, non-print items, and a backgrounder, as well as optional items. She reviews the purpose of a pitch letter as a tool to capture interest. She also provides a chart that shows four types of media kits (special event, news, promotion, or crisis) and the content that each kit should include.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 8, Social Media Marketing (15 pages), the author explains the importance of social media to a company's communications. She looks at the three targets of social media: customers and clients, employees, and the media, and recommends how to interact with each. She recommends creating guidelines for using social media. She describes blogs and microblogs, and considers criteria for effective content. She explains Twitter and Facebook and offers characteristics for microblog content. She provides tips for managing comments on Facebook. She also outlines how to write a news release that targets bloggers and online journalists, suggests the elements to include in the release, and provides a sample.

Writing for Public Relations: A Practical Guide for Professionals is an eight-chapter book published by Business Expert Press in 2016 and written by Janet Mizrahi, a lecturer in the writing program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The book provides an overview of key communications tools for public relations, both print and online. The author offers guidelines to creating tools, including emails, press releases, newsletters, and brochures. She explains what makes writing effective in different contexts, such as delivering positive and negative news, print versus online content, and tailoring messages to the intended audience. She explains how websites and social media fit into a company's communication strategy. She includes checklists, templates, and examples. In Chapter 8, Social Media Marketing (15 pages), the author explains the importance of social media to a company's communications. She looks at the three targets of social media: customers and clients, employees, and the media, and recommends how to interact with each. She recommends creating guidelines for using social media. She describes blogs and microblogs and considers criteria for effective content. She explains Twitter and Facebook and offers characteristics for microblog content. She provides tips for managing comments on Facebook. She also outlines how to write a news release that targets bloggers and online journalists, suggests the elements to include in the release, and provides a sample.

In April 2015, BitGold, an international savings and payments service, was undergoing the final steps towards its historic initial public offering, which would take place on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange and sought to raise between $10 million to $20 million in funding. With its blending of blockchain technology and aspects of digital currencies like bitcoin, BitGold was paving the way to the legitimation of future "FinTech" startups by going public. The important questions include: How can BitGold continue to maintain its legitimacy and growth on the heels of a tumultuous year for digital currencies, blockchain technology and bitcoin? Given the complexity of the regulatory landscape, how can BitGold build its customer base and expand internationally?

In April 2015, BitGold, an international savings and payments service, was undergoing the final steps towards its historic initial public offering, which would take place on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange and sought to raise between $10 million to $20 million in funding. With its blending of blockchain technology and aspects of digital currencies like bitcoin, BitGold was paving the way to the legitimation of future FinTech startups by going public. The important questions include: How can BitGold continue to maintain its legitimacy and growth on the heels of a tumultuous year for digital currencies, blockchain technology and bitcoin? Given the complexity of the regulatory landscape, how can BitGold build its customer base and expand internationally?

Haw Par Corporation's healthcare division produces Tiger Balm, the external analgesic rub that has gained global popularity. Despite delivering strong results, the division remains dependent on Asian markets, which poses challenges with regard to low affordability, weak protection of intellectual property and aggressive competition. To achieve sustained growth, the company's executive director is considering several alternatives: geographic expansion, by entering more markets; product expansion, through deeper penetration of existing markets with new products; and extending the brand into the highly competitive wellness space. He also needs to decide whether the division should pursue organic or inorganic growth.

Haw Par Corporation’s healthcare division produces Tiger Balm, the external analgesic rub that has gained global popularity. Despite delivering strong results, the division remains dependent on Asian markets, which poses challenges with regard to low affordability, weak protection of intellectual property and aggressive competition. To achieve sustained growth, the company’s executive director is considering several alternatives: geographic expansion, by entering more markets; product expansion, through deeper penetration of existing markets with new products; and extending the brand into the highly competitive wellness space. He also needs to decide whether the division should pursue organic or inorganic growth.

In 2013, Oxigen Services India Pvt. Ltd. launched a money transfer service integrated with the infrastructure of the National Payment Corporation of India. The Oxigen Wallet, India’s first non-bank wallet, allowed instant money transfers to and from any bank account over an extensive ecosystem, with a large retail presence across India using point-of-sale terminals. Oxigen was a major provider of bill payment and merchant payment services, with complete interoperability between mobile wallets and bank accounts. But newer mobile wallet players were focused on alternative strategies, and were showing rapid growth in the number of subscribers thanks to innovative services, extensive sales promotions, and varied marketing initiatives. Oxigen wanted to be sure that it was using the capabilities of the ecosystem effectively within the context of changing market dynamics. Should Oxigen continue to invest significantly in ecosystem development, as it had been doing, or focus instead on a sales-and-promotion-driven growth strategy? In the changing market, what were Oxigen’s best options for success?

Betaspring was a mentorship-driven startup accelerator program for technology and design entrepreneurs. Founded in Rhode Island in 2009, it was one of the highest-ranked and longest-operating accelerators in the United States and was notable for being headquartered outside Silicon Valley. However, debate had emerged about the value provided by accelerators, and in August 2014 Betaspring faced two crucial strategic questions. Had a bubble emerged in the accelerator industry? If so, should Betaspring change its business model in order to survive a potential industry shakeout?

This case introduces the key features of Google’s wearable technology product “Glass” and illustrates the tensions that Google faced over the development and marketing of this product. The case goes on to highlight the growing backlash that Google experienced when promoting Glass.